Regency Bridge facts for kids
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Regency Suspension Bridge
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Side view of Regency Bridge from 2005.
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 Regency Suspension Bridge
Location in Texas
Regency Suspension Bridge
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Regency, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Austin Bridge Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002052 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
The Regency Bridge, often called the "Swinging Bridge," is a unique one-lane bridge in Texas. It stretches across the Colorado River. You can find it where two gravel roads meet: Mills County Road 433 and San Saba County Road 137. This spot is close to a tiny community named Regency. The bridge connects Mills County and San Saba County.
Contents
Building the Regency Bridge
The main part of the bridge is 343 feet long. If you include the ramps leading up to it, the total length is about 403 feet (122.8 meters). The bridge's wooden path is 16 feet wide. It was built in 1939, and most of the work was done by hand.
This wasn't the first bridge in this spot. An earlier bridge built in 1903 fell down when a group of cattle crossed it. Later, a bridge built in 1936 was washed away by a big flood. The Regency Bridge was built to be stronger.
Bridge Challenges and Repairs
In 1997, the Regency Bridge was fixed up by James Harris. George W. Bush, who was the Governor of Texas at the time, even came to a special event to celebrate its reopening. This was a very important day for the small community, which had only about 25 people.
On December 29, 2003, some local teenagers accidentally started a fire on the bridge's wooden surface. This burned a hole in some planks and caused about $20,000 worth of damage. The bridge was repaired and opened again for cars in early 2005.
The bridge closed again in late 2014 but later reopened. However, as of September 2020, the bridge is closed to cars because of "recent structural damage." You can still walk across it, and officials plan to reopen it for cars once repairs are done. In 2005, the Regency Bridge became the last suspension bridge in Texas where cars could still drive.
Remembering the Bridge's Story
There is a special historical marker nearby that tells more about the bridge's past. It's located on the southeast side of the intersection of FM 574 and Mills County Road 433.
The marker says: The first bridge over the Colorado River in this area was at Regency. It was built in 1903 and helped ranchers and farmers get their goods to market. But it fell in 1924, and a boy, a horse, and some cattle died. The next bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1936.
The Regency Suspension Bridge was built in 1939. About 90 percent of the work was done by hand. It became a source of pride for the area. In the 1940s, young people would gather there for picnics, dancing, and singing. Even though new paved roads bypassed it, the Regency Bridge (in 1976) was one of the last suspension bridges left in Texas.
Gallery
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Driving over the Regency Bridge on November 22, 2005.
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This sign shows the 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) weight limit. It's on the road leading to the bridge from Mills County.
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A view of the Regency Bridge looking towards San Saba County, taken on April 7, 2018.
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A close-up of the Regency Bridge's cable system, taken on April 7, 2018.
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The historical plaque for the Regency Bridge, photographed on April 7, 2018.
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The Regency Bridge near San Saba, TX, closed in September 2020.
